Eastern Ukraine shelling kills 6 civilians

Shelling in the eastern Ukrainian region ofDonetsk killed at least six civilians Tuesday, as fightingintensified between government and rebel forces.

AP reporters saw the bodies of two people who were killed whilewaiting for a bus in the separatist-held city of Donetsk. Separatist authoritiessaid another person died from an attack elsewhere in thecity. Regional authorities loyal to the government said six peoplein total, including the three counted in Donetsk, had diedthroughout the day.

Fighting spiked over the weekend in the bitter battle for control overDonetsk's now-shattered airport. The level of artilleryexchanges has abated since that peak.

In an effort to kick-start a peace process, German ForeignMinister Frank-WalterSteinmeierinvited his counterparts fromFrance, Russia and Ukraine to a meeting in Berlin on Wednesday todiscuss the crisis in eastern Ukraine. Russian Foreign MinisterSergeyLavrovplans to attend, the ministry said in Moscow.The resurgence in fighting during the last few days led "to a threatening situation,"Steinmeiersaid in Berlin.

Negotiating stakes for the warring parties hinge on the terms of acease-fire deal drawn up in September in theBelarusiancapital,Minsk. Agreement was ostensibly reached over a line of contactbetween the opposing forces, although that has been insufficient toprevent continued fighting.

A new truce reached in December swiftlyunravelledafter the NewYear and culminated with the confrontation that is still continuingat Donetsk airport and in surrounding areas. Separatists insist theyare entitled to control over the terminal, which now remains little morethan a smouldering shell, while Ukraine says the Minsk dealmakes no provisions for the airport.

Europeans leaders call for a ceasefire

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, whichwas a party to the September deal, on Tuesday issued a declarationcalling for an immediate, new ceasefire and for full implementationof the previous agreement.

Ukraine's military spokesmanAndriyLysenko on Tuesday saidRussia this week boosted separatist numbers with two battalions,comprising 400 troops each. He didn't detail how that figure was obtained.

Russian defence ministry spokesman Maj.-Gen. IgorKonashenkovcalled claims that troops had been sent into Ukraine as "absolutenonsense," according to Russia'sInterfaxnews agency.

While Moscow has routinely denied supplying manpower and weaponsto separatists in Ukraine, the sheer quantity of powerful arms inrebel hands has long strained those assertions. Numerous Russiancitizens actively participate in combat in rebel formations, butRussia insists they are there on a voluntary basis.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairscautioned earlier this month that the renewed intensification inhostilities is accompanied by an alarming deterioration of thehumanitarian crisis. The UN has said it is concerned thousands ofpeople are unable to buy essential food and medicine and that manyare living in cold winter conditions.

More than 4,700 people have died since the unrest began,according to UN figures.

AP reporters saw the bodies of two people who were killed whilewaiting for a bus in the separatist-held city of Donetsk. Separatist authorities said another person died from an attack elsewhere in thecity. Regional authorities loyal to the government said six peoplein total, including the three counted in Donetsk, had diedthroughout the day.

Fighting spiked over the weekend in the bitter battle for control over Donetsk's now-shattered airport. The level of artilleryexchanges has abated since that peak.

Russia agrees to discuss crisis Wednesday

In an effort to kick-start a peace process, German ForeignMinister Frank-Walter Steinmeier invited his counterparts fromFrance, Russia and Ukraine to a meeting in Berlin on Wednesday todiscuss the crisis in eastern Ukraine. Russian Foreign MinisterSergey Lavrov plans to attend, the ministry said in Moscow.The resurgence in fighting during the last few days led "to a threatening situation," Steinmeier said in Berlin.

Negotiating stakes for the warring parties hinge on the terms of a ceasefire deal drawn up in September in the Belarusian capital,Minsk. Agreement was ostensibly reached over a line of contactbetween the opposing forces, although that has been insufficient toprevent continued fighting.

A new truce reached in December swiftly unravelled after the NewYear and culminated with the confrontation that is still continuingat Donetsk airport and in surrounding areas. Separatists insist theyare entitled to control over the terminal, which now remains little more than a smouldering shell, while Ukraine says the Minsk dealmakes no provisions for the airport.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, whichwas a party to the September deal, on Tuesday issued a declarationcalling for an immediate, new cease-fire and for full implementationof the previous agreement.

Ukraine's military spokesman Andriy Lysenko on Tuesday saidRussia this week boosted separatist numbers with two battalions,comprising 400 troops each. He didn't detail how that figure was obtained.

Russian defence ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkovcalled claims that troops had been sent into Ukraine as "absolutenonsense," according to Russia's Interfax news agency.

While Moscow has routinely denied supplying manpower and weaponsto separatists in Ukraine, the sheer quantity of powerful arms inrebel hands has long strained those assertions. Numerous Russiancitizens actively participate in combat in rebel formations, butRussia insists they are there on a voluntary basis.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairscautioned earlier this month that the renewed intensification inhostilities is accompanied by an alarming deterioration of thehumanitarian crisis. The UN has said it is concerned thousands ofpeople are unable to buy essential food and medicine and that manyare living in cold winter conditions.

More than 4,700 people have died since the unrest began,according to UN figures.